asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he proposes to introduce regulations to help to conserve lobster and crayfish stocks.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lobster and Crayfish Stocks.
19.
There are at present regulations in operation which prohibit the taking of lobsters under a specified size limit. The scientific officers of my Department are carrying out investigations to ascertain whether this measure is adequate for the conservation of our lobster stocks and whether any measures are required in relation to the crayfish stocks.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this matter has reached serious proportions at the moment and that stocks of lobster and crayfish along the coasts seem to be almost gone? There would appear to be something more than an investigation necessary at this stage, and I would ask him to look into the matter.
The position is that the Undersized Sea-fish (Lobsters) Order, 1963, is still in operation and it declares as undersized any lobster the body of which is less than 83 millimetres in length. Accordingly, it is unlawful for any person to land, sell, expose for sale or have in possession for purposes of sale any lobster under this size limit. Therefore, people who fish lobsters of that size are acting illegally and are liable to punishment.
It is not a question of the fishing of small-sized lobsters but the question of the fish not being there at the moment because of over-fishing. This is the question to which the Parliamentary Secretary should address himself.
An international meeting will be held here later this year and it is to this problem of the conservation of lobster that we must address ourselves.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the seriousness of the neglect to conserve our fish stocks, stocks which are obviously being over-fished at present?
I am not neglecting our fishing stocks. I am in charge of them for only three months, and if Deputy Fahey has a guilty conscience, I cannot help that.
Surely the Parliamentary Secretary must have some plans to conserve our fishing stocks. It is not true to say that it was neglected during my term of office, but it seems to be neglected now.
Are there any discussions in the EEC context about this problem?
Yes, there will be discussions. They have not been held up to the present, but it is proposed to have such discussions. As I say, there will be a discussion at international level here in Dublin within the next few months. Such questions must be dealt with internationally.